Eastside March for Justice coming to Kirkland March 25

Inspired by the women’s marches across the country and around the world in January, Eastsiders are coming together to organize the Eastside March for Justice.

“I went to the Women’s March with my girlfriend and some friends and came back really energized,” Eastside March Director Brian Granowitz said. “I really felt that I wanted to do more.”

He said there weren’t many events on the Eastside, and he was eager to have an event that would engage his neighbors and friends.

The march will start at 9:30 a.m. March 25, at Houghton Beach Park in Kirkland and end at Marina Park. Those participating will march north on the Lake Washington Boulevard and Lake Street sidewalks.

At Marina Park, booths will be set up by various organizations including the ACLU, Eastside Refugee and Immigrant Coalition, Indivisible Kirkland Kenmore, Kirkland Safe, PFLAG, Planned Parenthood, Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA), Washington Autism Alliance and Advocacy (WAAA) and 41st and 48th District Democrats.

“One of the main reasons for the event is for people living on the Eastside to get information from these organizations,” Granowitz said, adding many of the booths will have information about volunteering and making donations.

Following the march, at 11 a.m., various speakers will address the crowd at Marina Park. They include Kirkland City Councilmember Penny Sweet; 48th District State Rep. Joan McBride; Kirkland Safe’s David Greschler; PSARA Administrative Vice President Bobby Righi; Caley Cook, president of the Society of Professional Journalists and University of Washington communications professor; James Terwilliger with the 48th District Democrats; Mike Kipling, ACLU of Washington Legal Committee member; and Susan Steckler, WAAA’s director of strategic communications.

The event is scheduled to end at 1 p.m.

It is being organized by the Eastside March planning committee, which includes Kirkland residents Granowitz, Jeanie Benward, Larry Almberg, Leah Lang and Margaret Meister, and Redmond resident Stephanie Moe. The committee is also supported by a group of about 20 volunteers for the event.

Granowitz said their goal is to get 300 people to attend the Eastside March, but he estimates there might be between 500 and 1,000 people in attendance, depending on the weather.

“We expect a good crowd,” he said. “We have a plan to handle that. … (The city) has been very supportive.”

Anyone is welcome to participate, Granowitz said, calling the event inclusive of all, regardless of demographics such as age, gender and religion.

For more information, visit facebook.com/eastsidemarch.